Humbled Gordon 'Glad to be back'

Now that he has served a league-mandated, two-game suspension, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is ready to make his mark on the offense.

The Cleveland Browns added a weapon to their offensive arsenal on Monday, as second-year wide receiver Josh Gordon finished serving his league-mandated two-game suspension for a failed drug test and is eligible to return to the team.

And Gordon, who led the Browns in both receiving yards (805) and touchdowns (five) in 2012, could not wait to report to work Monday morning.

“There was a great deal of excitement for me to be back, and I’m glad to be back,” Gordon said. “I’m glad to be back on the field. Just being taken away from it is a humbling experience for me. You find an appreciation for the game. Absence makes the heart grow fonder in a sense. That’s really what it’s about right now.”

Gordon said he must earn back the respect of his peers, as well as the Browns’ front-office staff, both on and off the field.

“I feel like this is a ‘last-chance’ opportunity for me in the league,” Gordon said. “Nobody wants a problematic type of person in their program or organization because of how it’s perceived to be. I definitely want to stay away from any controversy as long as I can, forever.

“I believe there’s not too many chances left out there and room for mistakes from me. I just need to get it right, and that’s it.”

During his two-game suspension, Gordon was able to be around the facility for team meetings and individual workouts in the weight room. He also spent time at the Cleveland Boys and Girls Club, giving back to the community.

“It was definitely the best thing for me,” Gordon said of being around the facility. “I’m not sure if that was a rule change this year, but it was a good thing to have, be able to work out at the facility, go to meetings with the team, stay in the same rhythm and routine that everybody else has. It was a great benefit for me.

“The absence from it definitely touched me. It makes you appreciate it a whole lot more. In my time away, I went to the Boys and Girls Club and spent some time with some young kids, some less-fortunate kids. Just being around them humbles you and brings you back down to earth a bit to see how much of a blessing it actually is to do what you do.”

Gordon returns to an offense that has scored only one touchdown in the first two games of the regular season. Although he does not feel any added pressure, Gordon wants to recoup his status as a playmaker for the Browns.

“It’s definitely vital for me to come back and make as big an impact as I can to help out the team in any way possible,” Gordon said. “That’s a big deal, having that sense of urgency on offense to make some plays. That’s what I’m going to come back and help do.

“It’s no pressure at all. I’ll just go out there and play like I’ve been playing, help the camaraderie of the team, make some big plays and hopefully, everything gets back on track. It’s not just about me. It’s about the team.”